The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROVERBIAL PHRASE

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.

Submitter comment: THIS EXPRESSION WAS USED WHEN THE FAMILY WAS CLEANING UP
DEBRIS FROM A LARGE CEDAR TREE THAT FELL DURING A STORM.
THE FATHER WAS CUTTING OFF THE BRANCHES WITH A POWER SAW,
AND THEN CUTTING UP THE BRANCH FOR FIREWOOD. THE CHILDREN
WERE TAKING THE SMALL BRANCHES TO THE FIRE TO BURN THEM.
A QUESTION AROSE AS TO WHAT SIZE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO SAVE;
THE MOTHER ADMONISHED THE DAUGHTER NOT TO BURN THE BRANCH,
THAT IT WAS TOO BIG AND COULD BE USED. THE DAUGHTER LOOKED
AROUND AT ALL THE BRANCHES AND LIMBS THAT FILLED THE SIDE
YARD AND SAID, "WE'VE GOT PLENTY," AND THE MOTHER REPLIED,
"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT." APRIL 1972--MY FAMILY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LEBANON

Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Date learned: 04-00-1972